Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefit

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What is VA Aid and Attendance Benefit?

The VA Aid and attendance is a tax-free benefit distributed to eligible honorably discharged veterans or their surviving spouses. It’s the highest level of Veterans Administrations Improved Pension Program. Those approved will receive monthly benefit that must be used as a reimbursement for the cost of acceptable medical expenses from the Veterans Administration (VA). This aid or assistance can be provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. Home care services are an acceptable medical expense.

Many veterans use this supplemental pension to help pay for supportive home care, medications, Assisted Living, etc. 

This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional cash flow to help care for ailing parents and loved ones. There is over $1B each year unclaimed by people who could qualify but never applied.

Wartime veterans or surviving spouses of veterans may be eligible for up to $2,100 per month via the Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension With Aid & Attendance Benefit – that can pay for a personal assistant to come into their home part-time.

Challenges To Getting The Benefit

Most people simply don’t know the benefit exists! Our goal is to educate our local community about the benefit so they can choose whether or not they want to take advantage of it.

How Do I Qualify For The Benefit?

Service Requirements

  • Wartime Service (or widow of wartime Veteran)
  • Served at least 90 days of actual ACTIVE DUTY
  • Served at least one day during a war period
  • Honorable discharge

Age & Medical Condition

  • Over age 65

  • Need assistance with activities of daily living

Limit on Assets

  • As of October 18, 2018, the VA will increase the asset limits for all applicants of the VA Pension Aid and Attendance Benefit to $123,000

Assets VA Does Not Count

Exempt Assets:

  • Home (must live in it)
  • Vehicles
  • Personal property

Benefit Conflicts

Veterans and their families should be aware of potential eligibility conflicts between pensions and other assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs and / or other government programs. 

  • Veterans cannot receive both VA Disability compensation and VA Aid and Attendance Pension.  However, they can receive the higher benefit of the two programs.
  • If a Surviving Spouse is receiving Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and needs assistance with his or her activities of daily living, she or he can qualify for additional assistance, approximately $300 / month. However, a surviving spouse cannot receive both DIC and a death pension on the same veteran.
  • Receiving a VA pension may disqualify a veteran from receiving Medicaid benefits.  Often times the level of income assistance received from the Aid & Attendance benefit will exceed the maximum allowable amount of monthly income to receive Medicaid assistance.

Steps To Get Started.

Contact us (Phone: 267-755-7500 or Email: [email protected])  to fill out a Pension With Aid & Attendance Benefit Referral Form.  This will allow our Accredited Benefit Agents to see if you may qualify for the benefit.  *We are not legally allowed to determine your eligibility.

*We do not charge families for assisting them with filing a VA benefit application. You cared for us……now it’s our turn to care for you.